fun stuff

Rapunzel, Rapunzel, Let Down Your Hair!

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Rapunzel

First of all, I want you to notice how cool and un-sweaty Rapunzel is.  Now, look at all that hair.  Keep these things in mind because later on you will need to refer back to these little tidbits of observation.  There is not one single sweat bead on that gal.

Rapunzel's court

waiting on Rapunzel

All the little children got to stand around the big stone table in Rapunzel’s court and color her picture while they waited on her arrival.

chatting it up with Rapunzel

Kate and Ava are enthralled!

 

Rapunzel and all the other princesses as well as Goofy, Pluto a/k/a Pooto in Ava-ese, Minnie, Mickey, all of them,  were just too neat.  How in the world they stayed so nice in that hot, humid weather is amazing.  But each one took time with the children, talking to them, giving them undivided attention.

Kate and Ava with one of their favorite characters

Kate just cracks me up the way she leans into all the characters and looks like she is totally in love.  Ava is just as funny with her teeth-clenching smile.  Well, she is two, and that is the age they start trying to smile and totally screw it up.  So for the next year or so I’m sure we will have all sorts of weird facial expressions as she works on her smiling technique.

Notice Rapunzel is still dry as toast!  Not one teeny tiny trickle running down from that heavy hair.

In the big teacup

Remember how cool Rapunzel looked?  This pic of the girls in the teacup is how we looked all week: sweaty, shiny faces; sweaty, shiny creases in Ava’s elbows; sweaty, wet hair; droopy, wet, sweaty clothes.  And they were riding in the stroller!  So you can just imagine what I, the Gigi with shorts to her knees and a cami top to emphasize my granny flab-arms and tennis shoes and hair in a pony tail, looked like.  Especially on the day I was laboring to push that stinkin’ stroller with the brake on!

The question that I just can’t seem to answer, the mystery that eludes me, is how do those people in character stay so perky?  So dry?  So dull versus sweaty shine?  Mini battery-operated fans inserted in their clothes?  Disney only hires non-sweaters?

I’m going to Google this.

Winnie Poo and Tigger Too!

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Girls with Winnie Poo and Tigger

This past week I am still recuperating, so the blog upkeep has been a little slow.  I did go to the doc and got x-rays of my foot and toe and have no broken bones!  Yippee!  I will take any and all good news that I can possibly get.  The arm is killing me, though, so therapy starts Monday.  To get my mind off my ails and ills, I decided to post some more on our Disney trip.

I am so very sorry if you are bored to tears with my precious grandgirls… but I just can’t help it.  I am addicted to them.  And, personally, I cannot fathom how anyone else could not be.  Look at those cute little faces… and toes… and hair… and, well, you can just click on off now if you want.  I will totally understand.

But for those faithful few who indulge my addictions, here are just a few more highlights from our trip.  As I said, the big thrill for both girls was getting their picture made with all the characters.  After I added up all the bills, those photo opportunities cost a fortune!  Worth every penny, too.  After all, I can’t take it with me, and surely I won’t be eating that much when I retire (when they force me) and can learn to live on a meager existence.  I took lessons from my very frugal mother, so I at least know how to do so.

So enjoy these cute little faces (my grandgirls, not the characters).

Tigger lovin' on my Ava

Tigger & Kate

sitting in Winnie Poo's house

coming out the front door

I will stick this next picture in here to show you why there will be no photos of me.  The whole week I looked as though I was there through the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which, I must add, is really neat.  There was a young girl there through that program, and they are treated so very special.  As we were waiting to get yet another picture, this time with Jasmine and her guy (can’t remember name), and after the line had been closed with several upset people expecting to be added to the line and not being allowed to do so (they do have to set limits), just as it was our turn they brought this young lady up to have her picture made.  The attendant explained she was through the Foundation because she had on a special necklace, and they would let her get her picture made first.  That was just neat; to see how they treated her in such a special way.  Come to think of it, a couple of times people looked at me like I needed some help… which I did.

Gigi peeking out from hiding in Poo's house

two grumpy girls

the ultimate way to get around Disney

To make it as easy as possible on all of us, I rented a stroller at Disney.  One of the good things about that was when we needed to drop it off and pick it up somewhere else, we could just take the name tag out and pick out another one, no packing it on and off the transportation.  We should have gotten two so there would be no fussing:  leg touching, sitting in the middle, touching feet.  You know the routine.  But basically they did very well in it.  Now, I, on the other hand, needed a little help every now and again.  At one point I had retrieved the stroller after getting off a ride, and was pushing the girls.  But my goodness!  Today was an exceptionally hot, humid day, and I was particularly tired, but that stroller was so very difficult to push.  Keely hadn’t had that much trouble, just flitting all over the place as she pushed the munchkins around.  Man!!  I was really getting old.

Since my pushing progress was lagging behind, Keely looked at me and asked if I wanted her to push.  So I told her she was going to have to; I just simply couldn’t push it and didn’t know how she pushed it so easily.

“Did you undo the brake?”

BRAKE!!?

You would be sooo amazed how easily those strollers glide along without the brake on.

The $15 Cupcake

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this is a jewelry box?

At 1900 Park Fare I had ordered a “personalized” cupcake that came with a small jewelry box for the big finale on Kate’s birthday.  1900 Park Fare is a buffet restaurant in the Grand Floridian which is a very snazzy resort hotel, on the old grand hotels of yesteryear scale.  They have the characters Prince Charming, Princess Cinderella, the mean stepmother, and the two stepsisters.  It was a full crowd that evening, but no more full than the castle restaurant had been earlier that day.  I was expecting the same kind of treatment.

So when it was time for dessert, here comes the waitress with Kate’s “personalized” cake and jewelry box.  Say what?!?!  The waitress hands her the Mickey plate and says, “here you go.”  That’s it?  Where’s the fanfare?  Where’s the happy birthday song?  Not even a happy birthday said to her?

Needless to say, I was a little disappointed in the presentation as well as the “jewelry” box.  I knew the cake was going to be an oversized cupcake, so that wasn’t surprising, but the pink, plastic treasure box was a bit of a shocker.  Shoot.  I didn’t even have to buy an extra cupcake at the castle.  Just goes to show you that royalty knows how to put on a shindig.

Kate, however, was pleased as punch.

checking out her treasures

Not only was she pleased, but when she heard me later dissing it, she was rather upset with me and sternly reprimanded me.  So I’ve been careful to bad mouth them and it out of her presence.  Why can’t I just be happy, like Kate is?  Even if they didn’t have some hoopla, she was thrilled with her little cake and jewelry/treasure box.

planning the extraction

she has a plan

concentrate

Houston, we have lift-off.

AND it's out!

Since we had had a big lunch, I don’t think she was all that hungry and enjoyed cutting it up into pieces more than eating it.  It wasn’t even all that good.  I tasted it (gotta get my money’s worth, don’t you know) and it was a little dry.  Kate was probably full of cupcake; it was more fun cutting it up and playing in it.

Such fun!!

She loved all the characters that were there.  I thought they might make a bigger fuss over her since it was her birthday, and there weren’t that many little ones there that evening, or not the way I remember it anyway, but they didn’t.  One of the mean stepsisters told her she was glad she didn’t have on a Cinderella dress, and Kate wanted to know why she said that.  Innocence.

Kate and Drizella

Kate, Ava, and Anastasia

I loved their costumes and make-up!

the mean stepmother telling Kate to eat all her food

Kate was loving being beside Prince Charming. Ava? Who knows what she's thinking.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So we ended our big birthday celebration with a bang.  Kate and Momma went back to the Magic Kingdom and stayed till after the fireworks, getting back to the room around 11:00.

Of course, we’ll have to do this again on Ava’s 5th… or 10th… birthday so they can actually remember going to Disney.

"Yeah, yeah, you seen one princess, you've seen them all!"

 

Lips Made For a Princess

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Our first day was staying at a stay and park hotel which was a good deal since we got to leave the vehicle there all week plus get a ride to and from the airport.  Our flight was at 6:00 a.m. so we had to get up and at ’em early.

waking up Kate

Waking up the little princess (which is what she called herself all week, by the way) was a chore.  Ava got up and was getting dressed while we tried to get Kate going.  She wasn’t too happy that I was taking early-morning photos.

grumpy Gert

As you will see, Kate has not only the potential of being royalty but also the lips for royalty.  When she is older, she can be a real princess at Disney because she has the lips for it.  We discovered this at Cinderella’s castle when we went there for lunch on her birthday.

Snow White talking with Kate

Snow White was so sweet!  She took time to talk to the girls.  And as she was talking to the girls, I noticed the similarity between her and Princess Kate.  If you will look at the photo, you will see her mouth is moving and she has beautiful lips.

Kate’s mouth is always moving and she has beautiful lips… when they’re not turned down in a big frown.  Well, even then, they’re still beautiful.

the two little princesses mesmerized by the one big princess

Kate loves to talk with her beautiful lips (actually it’s called bossing).  She also loves make-up including bright red lipstick.  The two just go together:  beautiful lips and bright red lipstick.

Kate kissing Snow White

Kiss from Snow White

checking out the kiss

The girls were very excited to be kissed by Snow White.  I can’t imagine how many times the lovely Princess must have to replenish her lipstick!

Ava's turn

the special kiss

Ava's ready for her Snow White kiss

Ava is loving this!

beautiful red lips!

Ava is very proud of her Snow White "tattoo"

 

I’m fairly certain she does this to each child that will allow her to do so.

And the final result of all this kissing…

A pair of bright red lips on the cheek of each little princess!

And how does this make me realize our Kate has the lips of a princess?  Her lips are always moving and talking, so check that one off; she loves to kiss her prince (usually me–I am so lucky), so check that one off; she would love that bright red lipstick slathered all over her lips, so check that one off; and she has the full lips for leaving nice, big, red “princess tattoos” on all the happy little children’s faces.

Cinderella’s Castle

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so awesome!

Cinderella’s Castle is just so neat!

beautiful stained glass

It is awesome to go up the winding staircase with the knight’s armor and all the other decorations.  In the dining room there are stained-glass windows all around.  The furnishings are beautiful, and the waiter is more than helpful.  As you wait to go upstairs to the dining room, photographers take a picture with Cinderella as well as give each family time to take their own photos.

Cinderella, Kate, and Ava

As you’re having your meal, they bring the pics around in a folder: one 8X10 and four 4X5’s.  They are included in the meal package which is two dining meals or $150 for the four of us.  Actually Ava ate free because she was under two.  All the other restaurants were approximately $100 (some a bit more, some a bit less),  and if you wanted the picture, it had to be purchased, plus Ava ate off her sister’s meal and ours, not one of her own.  The girls’ meals were served on white Mickey Mouse plates:  a big round plate with two smaller, white, round plates attached for ears

the wishing star and wand

Once seated, they bring everyone a wand and a wishing star. During a part of the mealtime, they have everyone make a wish on their wishing star and then move the wand over the star, repeating the magic words of the wish master. I can’t remember the words; I’m not sure I made a wish.  But Kate did.  She told us she wished that she would get to see Jasmine.

making a wish

The birthday cupcake

blowing out the candle

 

 

The waiter made a big production out of her birthday that day.  He brought out a cupcake with three small bowls of decorations for her to decorate her cake.  As he lit the candle, he had everyone in the restaurant sing Happy Birthday.

Ava decorating her cupcake

decorating the birthday cupcake

Ava got one as well!  So they both had a big time with the tiny chocolate chips and sprinkles, decorating and then scarfing down birthday cake.

Kate's big birthday cupcake

Snow White, Kate, and Ava

We saw Snow White.  She was very gracious and spent a lot of time with each little girl.  This is the princess that Kate should be when she gets old enough to work at Disney.  More on that tomorrow.  Of course, Cinderella was the first we saw as we were waiting downstairs.

Ariel, Kate, and Ava

Ariel wore a blue dress and had a starfish in her hair.  She was beautiful as well with her long red hair.

Aurora is really Kate’s favorite even though she was quite a Jasmine fan this past week.  Kate loves to be Sleeping Beauty and wants me to be Prince Phillip.  She knows all the couples.  If she is Ariel, then I get to be Prince Eric.  If I mess up and mention the wrong prince with the wrong princess, she corrects me.

Princess Aurora, Kate, and Ava

Belle, Kate, and Ava

We never play Beauty and the Beast, but I think I will have to suggest it from now on because Belle was one of the nicest of all the princesses we met.  She met the girls at their level, as did Snow White, another favorite of mine.

Mundane Molly and Home Sweet Home

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the princesses

As you can see, Princess Kate has a long way to go to come back down to reality.  In this picture she is wearing her Jasmine princess costume she bought with her birthday money.  That’s the one she picked out at the Disney Store.  She loved those jingly gold decorations.  (I have my own jingly gold decorations on my zumba skirt that I so love.)

Come to think of it, she’s never in reality that often.  Our little mundane town and existence (that I appreciate so much today) is nothing more than a background for her big plans and productions for her life.  From her knight in shining armor all the way to the babies to the police woman/school teacher/who knows, Kate is always pretending and playing.

Kate with her knight in shining armor

Her very favorite play story, though, is her prince and she getting married and living in a castle and having babies.

Kate and her Prince--♪♪Some day my Prince will come♪♪

By the time she had gotten her picture made with several princesses, she had the princess moves down.

The princess dress hold -- sort of like the princess wave only holding the dress/top out to the side

She’s already regal (takes after her Aunt Dar) and has the “how dare you talk to the Queen that way?” attitude.  (Sorry, Dar.  You may be usurped before you even realize it!)  So I have no doubt in my mind that our mundane Molly lifestyle will not be a hindrance to her grand scheme of things to come.

Now, Ava on the other hand…

"What's a prince?"

I’m not sure what that is all over her face, but the black on her chin is where she fell as she was running.  Big bruise.  And she loves to be home.  That was her big request all week:  Gigi home or Mommy home.  Just our little Mundane Mollies playing and planning their lives and being happy to be at home, sweet home.

A Firsts Party

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Today I went to a Firsts party.  Well, it wasn’t called that; it was called a baby shower.  But there were just so many firsts going on that all I could think of was it should have been called a Firsts party.

What firsts?

Mommy and baby

Well, the new mommy with the precious little baby girl on the way.  The little baby girl that already has so many cute little clothes and other baby gadgets and gizmos that I can’t wait for her to get here.

Of course, a new baby means a grandma, and this is the first time my friend is going to be a grandma!  A first-time mom and a first-time grandma.

going to be grandma

She said today that she was going to need lessons on how to be a grandma from me and Dar, but I told her it comes naturally.

grandma love look

The first time she sees that precious little girl she will push Momma out of the way and grab that baby!  She will forget she even has a daughter of her own because she will be in such awe and love of that new little life.

My friend’s other daughter is also having a first:  her first year of college away from home.  She’s been over to the college, done all the orientation, got her room ready to roll (I assume), and will be leaving next month.

bring on the books!

I think she’s excited at the same time that she is a little anxious.  It’s hard to leave your home… especially with a little niece going to make her arrival soon.

So now the circle of firsts begins anew.  From that first breath to her first steps all the way to her first apartment/dorm room of her own to her first baby… and eventually

oh, yeah. That's what I'm talkin' about!

bring it on!

 

 

 

The Tank

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propane tank

One of these little darlings is sitting on my deck as I blog.  It’s bigger than I thought but not so big that it takes up that much room.  The city cut me off, you know.  I didn’t pay my $10 bill in a timely manner; pretty sure it was at least one day after the two-week-pay-or-off-with-your-head gas date.  I knew they were doing it with the water but didn’t think they were doing it with the meter rental which is what I pay in the summer months.  So when they said it was $75 to have it turned back on, I told them to just plug it or get the meter or whatever they have to do because I wasn’t paying that and promptly went home and called the propane gas company to bring me a tank or two:  one for the house for the stove and one for the garage for the couple of months I use it in the winter.

After the guys came with the tanks, we all realized I only needed one.  Well, actually the dude that knows what he’s talking about realized it, and then I saw the flame light.  So it sits out by the garage instead of right by the back screen door which is very nice.

I need to paint it with a summer scene.

summer scene

Rolling Stones mouth

Or Rolling Stones mouth.

Michelangelo's David

Or naked men.

margaritaville

Or a big Margarita and flip-flops.

Or…

The Wonderful World of Disney

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Disney Castle

Coming up soon is our Wonderful World of Disney Adventure!  I am so excited!  We are going for Kate’s fifth birthday which explains why we are going in the hottest part of the year.  She will be treated that day like the little princess she is.  The good people at Disney give her a big badge to put on, and everyone goes out of their way to say “happy birthday” to her and give her special attention.  And Kate loves attention!  She also loves pretending to be a princess, so she will get to eat lunch at the castle and then supper with Cinderella and Prince Charming where she will receive her own little cake (over-sized cupcake) and a small jewelry box.

Prince Charming and Cinderella

I just found out today at the manicure shop (where else besides the beauty shop can you get good info?) that Prince Charming and Cinderella really did get married!  An old acquaintance was there, and as we were talking about the upcoming trip, she said a friend of hers as a young girl went to work at Disney as Cinderella.  She met the young man who was working as Prince Charming, and they fell just as in love as the original pair… and, well, got married.  They now have a home full of Disney memorabilia.  And hopefully will live happily ever after.

Which one is Kate?

Did I Mention How Much I Despise Frogs?

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frog

This picture gives me the heebie-jeebies.  I took it.  And let me tell you, it was one of the scariest and most nerve-wracking moments I have ever had during my picture-taking career.  The frog looks rather large in this picture, but that’s only because I cropped and enlarged it for the benefit of my devoted readers (whom I hope have not been traumatized by this photo).  By really looking at it in all its despicable ugliness can you get the full realization of why I am petrified of the monsters.  Thank the good Lord above it did not try to hop and attack me during this photo shot ordeal!

They get in the pool skimmer which inevitably causes one of many frog dilemmas.  Do I, as a big person, adult, grown-up, get this teeny, very dead frog out of the skimmer on my own, wearing rubber gloves and using a net, or do I call one of my trusted frog boys/men?  And just as inevitably I call one of my trusted frog boys/men because I know that when I am trying to get the nasty thing out of my skimmer it will touch one of my gloved hands, and I will immediately die of a heart attack.  (I am only thinking of my children and grandchildren! who need me!)

This is not a fear that comes from a movie perhaps titled “The Frog Attack” when I was small or even by my older brother bombarding me with live and/or dead frogs (lots of other stuff, just not that) or a freak frog phenomenon.  It’s genetic.  And I know it is genetic because my Cousin Sandy is just as petrified of the stinking things as I am.  (She also likes storms as much as I do.)

When I was trying to get the pool up and running, there were three baby frogs in the dry, painted pool.  Since I had banged up the fresh paint with one of my brilliant ideas (too tedious to go into), I had to repaint a few places.  And since Kate and Ava were here when I was painting those places, I had to buck up and put on my big-girl panties and pretend to love the ugly creatures… and got IN the pool with them and painted.  Of course, I had on knee-high rubber boots in the 90 degree weather and gloves as well.

Which just goes to show you that a mother’s and a grandmother’s love and sacrifice knows no boundaries.